2018 FIFA WC: Senegal take on South Korea in final pre-World Cup friendly

Grödig, Austria (PANA) - Senegal, one of the five African nations going to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, meet South Korea on Monday in their fifth and final pre-World Cup friendly.

The match will be played at the Untersberg-Arena in Grödig, Austria, which has capacity for only 4,128 fans.

The Senegalese, returning to the world cup after 16 years, have played four friendlies before the date with South Korea, drawing three matches and losing one - 23 March – Uzbekistan (drew 1-1); 27 March – Bosnia-Herzegovina (drew 0-0); 31 May – Luxembourg (drew 0-0); and 8 June – Croatia (lost 2-1).

With only one win in the friendlies, the Africans must try to break the trend on Monday against South Korea, who have largely been limping towards Russia.

When they appeared in their maiden World Cup in 2002, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, Senegal reached the round of 16 after beating Sweden 2-1 (Henri Camara scoring both goals on 16 June 2002). Six days later they lost to Turkey 1-0 and ended that campaign as 7th spot overall.

Senegal, called an unfancied team of the tournament, could prove to be dark horses, being they have a good chance of progressing further than any other African side.

The Koreans have only one win (2-0 over Honduras) from their last five friendlies. They are yet to shed any light that they have prepared well for their opening match against Sweden in Russia.

The match against Senegal could prove pivotal for Shin Tae-yong’s team.

With both teams looking for the relative success of achieving progression to the knock-out stages, a win in this match could be just the confidence boost needed to inject belief into their respective games.

Senegal are in Group H alongside Poland, Colombia and Japan. They open their World Cup campaign against arguably the toughest team in the group, Poland. Five days later Japan will follow, and then finally Colombia are their opponents on the 28 June.
-0- PANA VAO/MA 11June2018